Brellier bites back

Julien Brellier insists he is committed to Hearts Champions League bid, even if he is not rated by Vladimir Romanov

Something is bothering Julien Brellier. The dugout isn’t big enough for both of them and one will have to move on. After a few near things with the Frenchman’s left hand, a wasp leaves him in peace. Not all interference can be swatted away so easily and the drone of Vladimir Romanov’s criticisms will always be in the background for the Frenchman. George Burley was asked to put in writing why Brellier should play, as though Hearts’ owner was taking down evidence that could be produced in court, and he later described Brellier as a “three out of 10” player to Claudio Ranieri.

The midfielder could have been forgiven for believing he was as welcome around the club as the wasp was in his personal space at Riccarton on Friday afternoon. Yet as opponents have found, there is a stubborn streak to the man from Grenoble and he wasn’t for